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REMINISCENCES 

OF ONE WHO 

SUFFERED IN THE 

LOST CAUSE 



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REMINISCENCES 

OF ONE WHO 

SUFFERED 

IN THE 

LOST CAUSE 



DEDICATED TO RELATIVES AND FRIENDS 
BY C. H. HANCE 



Gift 

■Author 

OCT 2 JJil 



REMINISCENCES OF ONE WHO 

SUFFERED IN THE 

LOST CAUSE 

My father, John Hance, and my mother, Catherine 
Hewitt Hance, and their two daughters, Malvina Margaret 
and Virginia C, emigrated from Montgomery County, 
Virginia, in 1829 or 1830, to Montgomery County, Mis- 
souri. My father had taken, for his interest in the thirteen 
hundred-acre home estate, a number of negro slaves, which 
he brought with them, and also a stock of merchandise, 
which he opened up at Old Lewiston, Missouri, then the 
county seat of Montgomery County. 

After merchandising here for a few years father pur- 
chased a farm near Danville, then the county seat of Mont- 
gomery County, where he transferred activities after hav- 
ing closed out the stock of merchandise at Old Lewiston. 
Here, in the early days of Old Missouri, I was born, March 
11, 1837. We continued to live here until, in 1847, father 
sold the farm, and we moved to St, Louis. The negroes 
were now hired out, many of them working on river 
steamers. After a lapse of almost sixty-five years, I can 
vividly remember as if it were yesterday how those great 
river steamers, which looked to be floating palaces, would 
majestically steam out from the levees; while I would stand 
on the bank and wave to our men and to all of the deck 
hands, who were negroes. They would assemble on the 
forward deck cheerily singing the "Jubilee" and were happy 
beyond measure, for they were going down the "Ole 
Missipp" to New Orleans, where "de oleander, de orange, 
and de cotton do grow and de mockin' bird do sing eber 
more." They were just as happy when they returned to 
their homes in St. Louis and handed over their earnings to 
"Ole Massah" to help support the "fam.ly." 

At this time I was attending the public schools of St. 
Louis, where I obtained all the education I ever received. 
In the spring of 1861, I was appointed Freight and Ticket 
Agent for the North Missouri R. R. at Jacksonville, Mis- 



Reminiscences sourl, ha\Ing received the position through the Hon. Isaac 

irho Suffered H. Sturgcon, president of the road, and who remained my 

tn the ^varm and personal friend throughout his long and honor- 

Lost Cause \ • r 

able life. 

"^' It was some time in April, 1861, when Col. Bates 

arrived with his regiment of Iowa troops (3rd Iowa), being 
directed in his movements by the Hon. Jas. S. Rollins of 
Columbia, as to the best method of reaching General Ster- 
ling Price (pap) and of annihilating him. General Lyon 
was in pursuit also. Soon after this a battle was fought at 
Boonville (of which history gives an account). This, how- 
ever, was not decisive, as Gen. Price marched immediately 
up the Missouri River, through Waverly and Dover to 
Lexington, where he found Mulligan with a considerable 
force of Federals. After a two days' siege of Mulligan's 
fortifications, he forced him to surrender. This was the 
first victory for the Confederates. I thought then that the 
Northern troops would soon be driven from the state; in 
this, however, I was sadly disappointed, for it was not long 
until the Confederates recruited in Missouri were crossing 
the Ozarks into Arkansas; but before Gen. Price crossed the 
border with his poorly equipped army he fought two battles, 
one at or near Carthage, the other at Wilson's Creek, where 
both McCulloch and Lyon fell. 

My position as freight and ticket agent was now vacated 
by an order issued by the Federal authorities at St. Louis, 
which required all employees of the road to furnish letters 
from well known Union men certifying to their loyalty. 
This I refused and could not do. So, failing in this, I 
opened up a small stock of general merchandise, being 
aided largely by my dear friend and brother-in-law, Joseph 
C. Brand, who was then carrying a large stock of mer- 
chandise at Old Florissant, St. Louis County, Missouri, in 
the same store in which I had formerly clerked. 

Early in June, 1862, I fully realized, after submitting 
to many indignities at the hands of the militia and the regu- 
lar Federal troops, being pointed out by them as a Southern 
sympathizer, that I must leave my business in the hands of 



if-" 



friends and don the garb of a^ soldier. My first endeavor 
in behalf of the cause in which my whole soul was enlisted 
was to raise a company; which I proceeded to do, after first 
having an understanding with Ben Ashcum that he would 
join me when his school term expired. William Furnish, 
Uriah Williams, Tuck Powell, George Freeman, Edmund 

Hance and Robinson had joined me. When we 

heard that in a day or two Col. Joseph C. Porter would 
attack the Federal forces at Mexico, Missouri, nothing 
would do these young recruits but that we must join Col. 
Porter and participate in the battle. This we decided to 
do; our objective point was to reach Capt. Matt Frost's 
camp in the Black Foot Hills of Boone County. This we 
did after an all day's ride, from our rendezvous in Ran- 
dolph, our home county. To Frost's new recruits of about 
seventy-five I added my squad. After resting until about 
ten o'clock at night, we mounted and rode briskly until we 
reached Mount Zion, Boone County, on the morning of the 
26th day of July, 1862. Here we remained until some 
time in the afternoon when we left, riding briskly in a 
southerly direction, until we reached Brown's Springs, 
where we joined Col. Porter's mounted battalion number- 
ing perhaps two hundred, and who were the very flower 
of young manhood of the state. They were all superbly 
mounted, but poorly equipped in other essentials. Porter 
greeted Frost with a most hearty welcome for we added 
materially to Porter's strength. We went into camp and 
witnessed a busy time among the soldiers; some were drill- 
ing, some making cartridges, some cooking, while others 
were washing out and drying their dirty garments. I was 
selected for my first duty, that of picket, and after serving 
several hours I was relieved, and immediately on reaching 
camp our pickets came rushing in to report the approach of 
the enemy. All was excitement and bustle and I could hear, 
not far in the distance, an occasional report of a gun, which 
I suppose was fired at an imaginary foe. Col. Porter's 
order to mount and fall in was speedily obeyed, each com- 
pany filing out in two's and in a brisk trot. We were mov- 



Remtntscences 
of One 

W'ho Suffered 
in the 
Lost Cause 

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Reminiscences mg to a Doint of morc advantage to receive the enemy s 

of One ITT 1 • 1 • • 1- 11 

H'/io Suffered attack. Upon reaching this point we dismounted and 
Lost ^Caiise "^^''^hed In double quick time quite a distance through heavy 
timber and underbrush, and speaking for myself, awaited 
breathlessly the threatened attack. 

Evidently the enemy was fearful of an ambush, for we 
waited and waited but no attack was made. We were then 
ordered to return to our mounts. After mounting and 
forming in company alignment, a hollow square was 
formed into which Col. Porter rode. This was my first 
look at the man and soldier whom we were to follow unto 
death, if need be. He so much more than filled my expecta- 
tions of him that I cannot express my sense of admiration, 
for he was certainly a knight, a cavalier, and a soldier. I 
have always regretted very much my brief association with 
him, for he was certainly justly called the "Stonewall Jack- 
son of North Missouri," Every eye was fixed on him when 
he spoke and said, "My fellow Missourians! We have 
awaited the attack of the enemy; for some reason they have 
thought best not to do so; I need not say to you that in an 
event of a meeting with them, I shall depend upon you as 
loyal Missourians and Southerners to perform your whole 

duty " After these long years have passed, my 

memory fails me and I cannot repeat his words which were 
so expressive of the wrongs we had suffered, and were still 
suffering, for they stirred the heart and soul, until many 
eyes were suffused in tears. 

After his stirring appeal to our loyalty and love of the 
cause we had so justly espoused, we were again given the 
order to "Fall in". We marched in two's very rapidly, 
again going in a southerly direction, until some time in 
the night when the command was broken up to seek, in 
companies, forage for the horses and food for the men. 
I remember how very hungry I was, having then gone with- 
out food for more than twenty hours. Soon at a farm- 
house with all the hungry crew I stood. A number of 
women were cooking in the old way before a fireplace in 
ovens; the hungry fellows would grab the biscuits before 



they were half done. I was standing aloof and before my 
time came, the order was given again to "March". About 
midnight we arrived somewhere down on the Aux Veaux, 
when we halted and were ordered to dismount. We were 
in a heavy forest and our poor tired and hungry horses 
were roped to the trees, and had only the bark to feed 
upon; while we, their riders, must roll up in a blanket or 
quilt, on an empty stomach, and dream about good things 
that were not in store for us. Next morning, without food 
for man or beast, we started from here, and soon came 
to an oat field where the oats had just been cut and were 
still in shock; each of us took a good supply for our hungry 
steeds. I was riding my roan, that I had carefully selected 
before leaving home, as he was built just right for cavalry 
service. (Porter, I am now sure, was seeking an advan- 
tageous spot to receive the enemy, who was still in pursuit.) 
Reaching a small stream, we dismounted and there was a 
mad rush for the commissary for flour, the only thing in 
stock for breakfast. I had just taken some flour and was 
mixing it with water that I had obtained from the little 
branch, where we had pitched our camp, when our pickets 
came rushing in, reporting the enemy near. Without a 
moment's notice the dough and camp were abandoned and 
we made a wild rush through the timber to meet the ad- 
vancing foe. After marching about a mile in double quick 
time, we were formed In line to face the enemy, who were 
advancing rapidly. Dr. Joseph A. Mudd, in his history of 
Porter's Campaign in North Missouri, during the summer 
of 1862, has this to say of the battle of Moore's Mill, as 
related to him by myself, as the things and doings occurred 
under my observation. Comrade Hance says: "Our boys 
were with me, fighting bravely after the action begun. It 
seems to me that our company was directly in front of the 
enemy's artillery. I have always thought it was our fire that 
disabled the battery and killed nearly all of the horses and 
a number of those in charge." It was just before our charge 
that Perry Brown fell, on my Immediate left, with part of 
his skull torn away by a grape shot. The firing by the 



Reminiscences 
of One 

Who Suffered 
in the 
Lost Cause 

Page 7 



Reminiscences enemy was, I think, the heaviest in the battle. We charged 

/TAo Stttjered and dfovc them two or three hundred yards farther back 

Lost Caus\ '"^" ^^^ timber. I never understood why we did not take 

the artillery w^hen it was abandoned by the enemy, unless it 

^' was because Col. Porter lackctl artillery-men and did not 
have the force to spare. 

Soon the reinforcements arri\ed for the enemy, and 
we were forced to fall back to a gully. Their fire was 
continuous and very heavy, the minie balls flying in our 
faces, and the smoke of their guns seem.ed to be within 
twenty or thirty yards. Here out of our six, George Free- 
man, William Furnish, Uriah Williams and myself, were 
wounded. My right arm was fearfully shattered almost 
from the shoulder to the elbow. Another bullet, which I 
still carry, buried itself in my thigh, and a third grazed the 
skin under my left arm, tearing a hole in my clothing and 
haversack, through w^hich you could pass your hand. I 
stepped back to a gully in our rear, and the next thing I 
remember was a Dutchman peeping around a tree at me 
with a shout of glee to see the damned secesh hors de 
combat. Presently several of Merrill's and Rice's Red 
Rovers came up; one of Merrill's orderlies carried water 
and poured some of it and some brandy down my throat, 
and asked me if I wished to be taken up the road where 
they had taken their dead and wounded. I said I w^ould 
like to be taken there, but first I should like to speak to 
an ofllicer if there were any near. He called Captain Rice. 
When he came I took my pocketbook from under a root of 
a tree where I had hidden it and said, "Captain, I have a 
request to make of you. Will you kindly send this book 
and money to my mother." I then gave him her address. 
He promised to send it immediately and then said, "Now 
I have a request to make of you." (When I think of it 
now I can but laugh at the ridiculousness of it.) "And it 
is, when you get back to your command, that you recover 
and return to me two or three of the guns, captured by 
your men from my company, as they are of a new kind and 
limited to my company and I cannot get others like them." 



I was then taken to the roadside and placed among the 
Federal dead and wounded. I lapsed into unconsciousness 
and when I came to myself, I was all alone, and the sun 
was setting. I thought, if I were able, it was time for me 
to seek shelter and relief, if those things were possible. I 
remembered that while on the march, that morning, we had 
passed a little log cabin just at the edge of the timber where 
we had turned in for encampment; and I knew it could not 
be very far away. Though weak and nearly blind from' 
loss of blood and suffering awful agonies, I made a supreme 
effort to reach it. Finally I was successful in my attempt, 
and fortunately the rail fence that stood in front of it had 
been pulled down to the ground, and the door was open. 
I walked in and laid down on a couch near the door. Close 
by it, lying on the floor, was my Comrade Perry Brown, 
who had received a fatal wound, and his brain was gradu- 
ally oozing out; I think he died that night. The entire floor 
was covered with the wounded and dying. The scene now 
comes back to me as a terrible nightmare. The sole occu- 
pant of this cabin was a lonely woman whose name I think 
was Fletcher. All night long, with a solitary tallow dip, 
suggestive of spectral shadows, did she pass and repass, 
giving water to the feverish and rendering what other aid 
she could. God only knows how I pitied her. 

The next day two young girls whose names were Mad- 
dox, came to assist this poor woman. They washed the 
blood and battle stains from my face and hands, and gave 
me some delicious chicken broth, the first food I had had 
for several days. They told me they were Union, but I 
think such kindness and gentleness could come only from 
sympathizers, and that their statements were made only 
through prudence. 

As near as I can remember, Doctors Scott and Howard 
of Fulton, and Doctor Russell of Concord, carried me out 
of the cabin and placed me on a carpenter's bench for the 
purpose of amputating my arm; but when they saw my 
condition they laid my arm across my breast and carried 
me back into the house, to either gain more strength for 



Reminiscences 
of One 

Who Suffered 
in the 
Lost Cause 

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Page 10 



Reminiscences the Operation Of to dic. But soon, thank God, a dear old 

H'ho Suffered Virginia gentleman, Col, Moses McCue, came with a spring 

tn the ^yjigon with a feather bed in it, on which he placed me, and 

Lost Cause " ' . 

took me to his home that was about two miles away. The 
jar of the wagon when it backed up against his front door 
caused me to faint, but Mrs. McCue caught me in her 
arms and threw cold water into my face, and this revived 
me. God bless her! Within a short time the same surgeons 
who had decided a few days before, when they put me on 
the carpenter's bench, that I was not strong enough for the 
operation, came and amputated my right arm. The ninth 
day after this, I walked across the floor and experienced 
the saddest moment of my life, when I looked into the mir- 
ror on the dresser, and saw myself for the Hrst time without 
my right arm, and knew I was doomed to go through life 
without it. 

Accompanied by my mother. Miss Ada McCue and her 
dear old father. Col. Moses McCue, we went to the home 
of my cousin, Mrs. Juliana Hudnall's, in an adjoining 
county (my native county). While convalescing here at 
the home of these good people (who were taking every pre- 
caution to keep my presence a secret from the hated militia 
of that county, in order to avoid persecution and possible 
arrest for harboring a rebel, and my being dragged off to 
prison), my mother and I would go every day to a bluff 
nearby and sit beside a picturesque little stream, with great 
trees overhanging, where we could see the birds and hear 
them chirp and sing — among them could be heard the mock- 
ing bird who sang so sweetly, and the homely rasping voice 
of the blue jay. These, together with the tender and con- 
soling touches of sympathy of my dear mother, braced me 
up and made me feel, notwithstanding the loss of my right 
arm that I had so recently sacrificed for the cause I so 
dearly loved, that there might be something still in life for 
me. After remaining at our cousin's for ten days, they 
kindly took mother and I to Montgomery Cit)', where in 
a short time, we took a train for Rcnick. our home town. 
There we were received with open arms and rejoicing on 



the part of our many friends who, when they received the 
first news of Moore's Mill, had heard that I was among 
the slain. About three weeks after reaching home, I was 
walking along the railroad as Paymaster Flynn's car was 
pulling out, and I was very much alarmed when I saw sev- 
eral Federal officers rush to the rear of the car and Mr. 
Flynn point in my direction. I expected the train to stop 
and I would be taken prisoner, and I was very much relieved 
to see it spin ahead. 

The next day I was surprised to receive a most kind 
letter from Capt. Rice, saying his sympathies for me were 
particularly aroused because of the painful and severe 
wound he had received at the battle of Kirksville ; and that 
it was by the merest accident that he had learned of my 
whereabouts through Mr. Flynn. He said he still had my 
pocketbook and money, and would be delighted if I would 
come down to Mexico, Missouri, for them. As I was afraid 
of arrest I sent a friend. Ode Cook, a well-known Union 
man. He received the book and money from Capt. Rice 
and brought them to me; I still have the pocketbook, but 
not the money. Although Capt. Rice was my enemy on the 
battlefield, I admired him in many ways, and he sent me 
many kind messages, and I shall always remember him as 
one of God's noblemen. 

Notwithstanding the fact that the whole country was in 
a state of war, and the little town of Renick was visited 
almost every day by either Federal or Confederate forces, 
my dear mother and her one-armed son must look over 
the field and see what could be done in order to make a 
living. Dr. Thos. L. Hamilton, a warm-hearted and 
zealous Southerner and my personal friend, was practicing 
medicine here, and owned a small drug store. One day I 
said to him, "Doctor, you need someone to take charge of 
the store when you are away; sell me half interest and 
take my note." I had hardly made the proposition before 
he accepted it, and as soon as we could arrange all prelimi- 
naries, we became partners. I said to him just before the 
final arrangements were made, "Doctor, I feel like I am 



Reminiscences 
of One 

Who Suffered 
in the 
Lost Cause 

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Reminiscences placing your property in jeopardy; you know how vlndic- 

Who Suffered ti^c and hateful the militia and even the regular Federal 

"» '/"' troops are toward those who have served in the Confeder- 

Lost Lause ^ 

ate army, and you must realize my having lost an arm may 
result in damage being done." He was always laconic and 
so was his reply, when he said: "Charley, these goods are 
mine and paid for, and if they are burned or destroyed in 
any way it will be my loss." So the arrangement of our 
partnership went into effect about the first of September, 
1862. Business went along fairly well considering the coun- 
try was in a state of war, and in our section a most cruel 
war it was. 

I cannot, in this brief story, relate the many cruelties 
Inflicted upon a suffering people, that actually came under 
my observation. Some time during the winter of 1862 or 
%2), Alonzo Haggard came Into the store and asked me 
to write a letter for him to his brother, who was serving 
In the Southern army, in Gen. Price's brigade, east of 
the Mississippi River. I wrote the letter for him and 
among the other things I said was that he must not come 
back until he could return with a victorious army, one that 
would drive every Lincolnlte or D — Yankee from our dear 
old state. Well, I foolishly signed his name to It, and dated 
It Renick, Missouri. This letter with a number of others 
was captured at Island No. 10. Orders were then at once 
Issued for the arrest of Haggard. He was arrested Im- 
mediately and taken to St. Louis and when he appeared 
before the Federal authorities, and was questioned about 
having written a treasonable letter, he Informed them that 
he could neither read nor write. He was then asked who 
wrote the letter and he told them "C. H. Hance." An 
order was then issued for my arrest. 

Feeling quite sure that I had done nothing that could 
or would place me In jeopardy with P^ederal authorities, I 
was very much surprised to see five mounted militia ride 
up in front of the store, dismount and come in, and place 
me under arrest. They Informed me that I would have to 
go to Huntsville, Missouri, with them. I soon learned 



(from some source now forgotten) that it was the letter 
that I had written that caused my arrest. This happened 
in late winter, after a thaw, and the roads were knee deep 
in mud; nevertheless, these Federals informed me that I 
must walk unless I could provide a horse for myself. A 
dear good friend, Fred Oliver, heard this edict. He whis- 
pered to me that his old blind mare was near and I could 
manage to get to Huntsville on her, and then the Yankees 
could have her; in the meantime he had removed his own 
good saddle and placed a worthless one in its place. 

I was placed with other political prisoners in Mount 
Pleasant College. However, my treatment here was not 
bad. I knew personally a number of the militia in charge. 
One in particular, John Griffith, although a radical Republi- 
can Unionist, objected seriously to my being placed in 
among those whom he considered "a tough lot"; for many 
of them were accused of offenses other than political ones. 
Griffith, being an officer, went directly to the Provost Mar- 
shal and through him secured a parole for me, in which I 
was allowed to go to the town, where I remained a few 
days before I was sent to a prison in St. Louis. 

Capt. Tad Austin was placed in charge of a number of 
prisoners, including myself, whom he was to take to Gratiot 
Street prison, notwithstanding I had previously been pa- 
roled as a prisoner to the county by Col. A. F. Denny. 
On our start from Huntsville Capt. Austin gave me permis- 
sion to ride In the coach with him. Of course, I was grate- 
ful for this privilege but felt sorry for the other poor fel- 
lows who were compelled to ride in cattle cars. Just before 
arriving in St. Louis, Capt. Austin told me that I could 
stay down town that night, if I would report to him next 
morning at the Everett House. I was grateful for this and 
expressed my appreciation of his confidence. Next morning 
I met him according to promise and was escorted to Gratiot 
Street Prison, where I was confined a prisoner for having 
written the Haggard letter. Bidding Austin good-bye, I 
again thanked him for his evidence of confidence and kind 
treatment that he had shown me on this trip. I soon saw 



Reminiscences 
of One 

IVho Suffered 
in the 
Lost Cause 

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Page 14 



Reminiscences Haggard, the scamp, who had betrayed me for an act of 
ffho Suffered kindncss that I had done him, 

'"the Gratiot Street Prison was mv home for only a few 

Lost Cause • ■' 

days, because of the efforts of my dear and loyal brother- 
in-law, Joseph C. Brand, whose acquaintance and influence 
in St. Louis enabled him to work for my immediate release 
through Henry T. Blow, who was at that time a member 
of Congress. I was given a parole which limited my opera- 
tions to his residence and yard for about thirty days. How- 
ever, I was granted the liberty of perambulating the streets 
of Old Florissant, where my brother-in-law resided and 
was engaged in mercantile business, in the store in which 
I had formerly clerked, but which position I had left to his 
nephew, Robert Timberlake, when I took the stock of 
goods to Pike's Peak in the spring of 1859. My boyhood 
days had been spent in Old Florissant, so while there I met 
many young friends, both boys and girls, whose sympathy 
I enjoyed to the fullest extent. I had another brother-in- 
law, Benjamin Douglas, who was a farmer and lived near 
town and who owned a very fine saddle horse, which he 
gave me permission to use as I pleased. (Under the con- 
ditions of the last parole I was allowed to do this.) Almost 
every day I would saddle Mack, the horse, and gallop him 
from the plank road on the south to the bridge over Cold 
Water Creek on the north, a distance of about one mile. 
I was joined in this ride almost daily by some young lady, 
whose presence brightened up the sky of my existence, and 
really added many hours of joy to my life, notwithstanding 
the fact that I was being held a prisoner. After a time, I 
applied to the authorities for leave to return to my home 
and business at Renick. This being granted, I bade my 
dear sister, Mrs. Virginia C. Brand, and her noble hus- 
band, "Good-bye," and quickly hied myself back to my 
dearly beloved mother and to my business at Renick, Mis- 
souri, the place designated by the Federals as "the little Old 
Rebel Hole." Here my mother and friends gave me a 
glorious welcome and it was not long before I was fully 
reinstalled behind the counter and was buckling down to 
business. 



A few months after this, and during a temporary ab- 
sence of my mother in April, 1864, I was boarding with 
Mrs. Sidney Eliott, and at her table I was placed just 
opposite a strange young lady who was introduced to me 
as Miss Katie Henderson. I was at once struck with her 
beauty, conversation and charming manners; in fact I was 
gone; it was love at first sight. And now after nearly fifty 
years she has the same charm, and neither of us know how 
we could live without the other. Six months after this ;ve 
were married, October 27, 1864. (In the meantime, how- 
ever, T. L. Hamilton and I had moved our stock of goods 
to Florissant.) 

I was still under parole and bond to the United States 
Government for good behavior; but in order to reach 
Columbia, Missouri, the home of my fiancee, I would have 
to pass through a country still in the state of war. In this 
I had a few misgivings, and thought it best to see the Pro- 
vost Marshal, to whom I was then reporting, for some 
special guarantee of protection on my trip. He assured me 
my parole was ample anywhere in Missouri, so with this 
assurance I started for Columbia. When I reached Cen- 
tralia, the nearest railroad station to Columbia, I found 
it in ashes, and the smoke was still rising from the ruins, 
as it had just been burned by the Federals. With some 
difficulty, I prevailed upon a liveryman to send me over to 
Columbia, a distance of twenty-two miles. 

When I finally reached there, after a long and tedious 
drive, my fiancee's father, Mr. Henderson, was waiting for 
me, having come in to meet me from his home, which was 
about six miles out in the country. He informed me that 
town was occupied by Federal troops, and that it would be 
necessary for us to have passes to be allowed to get out. 
We went to the court house for them; the oflUcer-of-the-day 
knew Mr. Henderson, who had been forced by them to 
furnish supplies of every description, until his plantation 
had been stripped of all eatables for man and beast. A 
clerk was ordered to issue passes for us, as Mr. Hender- 
son told them that I was a young friend who was going 



Reminiscences 
of One 

Who Suffered 
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Page 15 



Reminiscrnces home with him. After securing our passes we had just 

ffho Suffered goiie out of the building and were across the street, when 

, '" '^^ the fellow who seemed to be in authority put his head out 

Lost Cause , -' "^ 

of the window and demanded that Hance come back. The 



Pafff 16 



assurance that the Provost Marshal of St. Louis had given 
me gave me a lot of nerve. When I entered the room the 
fellow in authority was strutting back and forth and trying 
to look severe; and really he would ha\e scared a timid 
man. He said, "I understand you are a notorious Rebel." 
He spoke rapidly and excitedly as if he intended to do 
something desperate. He then told me how beautifully 
my friend "Pap Price" had been licked near Weston. I 
calmly said to him, "I haven't the honor you ascribe to me 
as I have no personal acquaintance with the General." I 
then told him that I carried a paper (just taking it suf- 
ficiently out of my pocket and then replacing it so that he 
could see it), that gave me the right to go unmolested any- 
where in Missouri. I then turned and walked out of the 
room; and that was the end of the episode. 

I immediately joined Mr. Henderson and we started to 
his home. The road seemed a long one before I reached 
my dearly beloved Katie Henderson, and the family and 
friends, who v.'erc there to give me a warm welcome. We 
were married the second morning after my arrival and 
immediately hied ourselves to Columbia to take the train 
to our home in Florissant, St. Louis County, Missouri. 
After a safe trip we arrived there and remained until after 
the Civil War, when my partner, T. L. Hamilton, and I 
decided that a better field was open to us at Renick, Mis- 
souri. With this change in view, we had already had 
erected there on exactly the same spot our former store 
had occupied when burned down by the Federals, a very 
substantial two-story building. Our fears, on leaving for 
Florissant, had been well grounded, for indeed the little 
city of Renick had been laid in ashes by a cruel and ruth- 
less foe. 

One day, during the summer of 1864, I was standing in 
my store at Renick and looking out west over and beyond 



the North Missouri railroad, I saw coming in my direction 
a troop of soldiers superbly mounted. I thought they were 
Jennison's Jayhawkers from Kansas; because there had been 
a rumor current that Jennison had declared that he was 
going to raid Central Missouri, and did not intend to leave 
a grease spot of Ex-Confeds' and their sympathizers. Hav- 
ing already lost my right arm I felt some alarm, and more 
when five soldiers galloped up to the sidewalk in front of 
the store, dismounted, and rushed in and asked excitedly and 
with oaths if I had any rope. I pointed to a coil under the 
counter; one of them jerked it out, and cut off perhaps thirty 
feet (which I thought was a great deal more than enough to 
hang me) but to my great relief, instead of putting it about 
my neck, they took it and rushed out. Then mounting their 
steeds they galloped off to a telegraph wire, tossed the 
rope over it and pulled it down and cut it. I soon learned 
that instead of these being Jennison's Jayhawkers, they 
were the notorious Bill Anderson's Guerillas, with Bill in 
command. After cutting the wire, they scattered; some 
came into the store and began taking things, in most cases 
not offering to pay for them. I remember distinctly one 
instance that a man paid me for an article that he got, and 
another fellow rolled over the counter and took the money 
that I had just received and deliberately put it Into his 
pocket. Just about this stage of the game, I was ordered 
to open the safe. Fortunately there was only a small 
amount of currency and about twenty-five or thirty dollars 
in gold there, as I had taken out fifteen hundred dollars the 
day before and had hidden it under the counter in some 
rubbish, and left this small amount in the safe as a blind. 
(My partner and I had agreed that the safe was the least 
safe of all places.) 

Sim Oliver and Bill Anderson had been college chums 
prior to the war, and when I told Sim of being robbed, he 
went to see Anderson at once, and told him that they had 
robbed a one-armed Confederate. About this time there 
was a trumpet call and the men were immediately in their 
saddles. Anderson was mounted on a beautiful black horse. 



Reminiscences 
of One 

Who Suffered 
in the 
Lost Cause 

Page 17 



I'a^f IS 



Reminiscences and taking liis rc\()lvcr out of his pocket he flourished it 

H'ho Suffcrcii over his head and commanded with an oath that the money 

in t/ic ^vhich was taken from Hance be returned. He rode up 

Lost Cause . ' 

and handed me the currency (but not the gold) and said, 
"Now we haven't robbed you, have we? Damn you, keep 
your jaw or I will murder you." I have always thought 
that he did this to square himself with his men. 

Horrors for the day had just begun; as soon as the 
wire was cut, a train was made up at the Federal military 
post, which was about thirty miles east of here. It was 
loaded with their troops and started up the road and 
reached the station above (Allen) just about the time 
Anderson did. A battle followed which was unimportant, 
however, on account of Anderson being so far outnumbered. 
When he discovered this, he and his troops galloped away. 

During Anderson's stay in Renick, every store I think 
was pillaged. Their headquarters seemed to be at Reed's 
and Jacob's store, which was next door to ours. Just a 
few days before this, Reed had received from his tailor in 
St. Louis a beautiful black broadcloth suit and some nice 
shirts, for which he had paid seventy-five dollars. These 
were in a trunk in the back of the store. When Reed came 
in he found that the trunk had been broken open and the 
clothes taken. Of course he was disgusted and very indig- 
nant; but seeing a belt and a dirty pair of trousers lying on 
the floor, that the thief had left in exchange for his good 
clothes, he gingerly picked them up, when low and behold, 
he found that the belt contained almost two thousand, four 
hundred dollars in gold and in currency — a very good 
price to pay for the things stolen, as he expressed it to me 
afterwards. Within a few hours he had his entire stock 
of goods boxed and on a freight train and he, with his 
goods and his newly acquired money, were speeding toward 
St. Louis. The next I heard from him was a letter that he 
wrote me from Canada, in which he said he was having a 
good time, and paying for it out of the money he received 
for his suit, through the generosity of the Guerilla. 



Sometime during the year 1864, William Hocker of 
iHoward County, Missouri, wrote a letter that came very 
I'ljiear causing me to land in Gratiot or some other prison. 
i^llt was in this way: After Bill Anderson's defeat and death 
j by the Federal troops and the scattering of his band of 
Guerillas, or more properly called "Outlaws," one of his 
lieutenants, whose name was Stewart, escaped and made his 
way to the home of my friend, William Hocker. Here he 
was taken in, and in order to aid him in his efforts to dodge 
the Federals, Hocker told him that he had a friend (mean- 
ing myself) in whom he could have the utmost confidence 
to give him aid in seeking a safe hiding place from the 
Federals. Stewart at once started to Florissant to find 
me. While riding through Callaway County he met a stock 
trader with whom he got into a duel and was killed. In his 
pocket was found a letter that Hocker had written to me; 
this was placed into the hands of the Federal authorities. 
They immediately sent a detective, who represented him- 
self to be Stewart, to find me. He happened to be riding 
on the same stage with my friend, Mrs. John Freeman, 
and his numerous questions concerning me aroused her sus- 
picion. So when they arrived in town, she at once sent me 
word to be on my guard, and telling me about this stranger. 
This happened about ten o'clock in the morning. Some 
time later that evening, John R. Christian, who was in my 
confidence, and I were sitting in the far end of the store 
by a good fire, when suddenly the front door opened and 
a stranger entered. I said to Mr. Christian, "There he 
is, John." This stranger came back where we were and 
entered into a conversation with Mr. Christian, at once 
announcing himself to be a Rebel, and was bragging about 
how many "Damned Yankees" he had slaughtered. After 
this he asked for C. H. Hance. I looked around the stove 
and said, "I am he." He said, "I would like to speak to 
you privately." So we went up to the front of the store 
near a lamp, and he drew from his pocket a letter and 
handed it to me. I read it; it was the Hocker letter. I 
looked up at him saying, "Are you Stewart?" He nodded 



Reminiscences 
of One 

Who Sneered 
in the 
Lost Cause 

Page 19 



Lost Cause 
Page 20 



Reminiscences nssfnf I ci! 1 "ft" 

./«„ »"<.nt^ 1 s.ml. It you arc, y„u and all your kind, d 

■"'*/ I., , .. ,, "•'"«"! In the neck, or shot until vou arc, 

icau. 1 Ic „,,s taken completely by surprise, seeming not 

ve,u""", " '\' '" ''° "' ">■• ^^ »'"'™' '••'>'"g ^ "•"'•d. he 
»u,t out o. the store mto the dark. A company of militia, 

'-"nn,« a part of Col. Julian Bates' regiment was camped 

m town w,th Capt. Charles Castillo in command. I told 

the'f, "7" "•„*'"" " """ '""^ ''■•" <-'^'P'- ^'^^*ill° that 
be eoZ"' ^"7'"-\^'">='« - in '"«n, and a squad should 
C ,s?^lh h"" "'"'■ "'''^•" '''^- Christian told 

se of h »"■" ^'"■", "■' "'■' '■^•" f"^ •"= "^-^ !" 'he 
neri, a '•" '" ^'"^ ""^ '" ^ ^•"■•■'''^"1 prison. He 

To show how forn.cr friends had become enemies, dur- 
ngth.s unhappy period of our country's history, I will 
relate th,s ,nc,dent: This ,nan Castillo and I we;e par . 
HTs ,n transport,ng goods from St. Louis to Pike's Peak 

ver whr. 1 r"'">' '^^^'"8 ""^ "^'^'^^ '" Den: 

Bates nnd I were constant associates prior to I 86 1. Indeed 
dur,ng h,s courtship of Miss Woodson in St Char es 
County, I v,s,ted her home with him frequently, and when 
hey were marned I was one of the groomsmen. He wa^ 
m command of part of the regiment which was guardL» 

Tuna": )T '"'"" :"'"•. ' "■•^^ '•-^- EJ«ard Bat' 
Julian s father, was at that tmie a member of Mr Lincoln' 
cabmet-.Attorney General, I think 

field's"«!»'"a?th"':" "■"' """^'"^ '"^J"^ °" G-- Scho. 
new s staff, at th,s time, came to me as a friend and in 

formed me that ,t had been reported to the LederaU or -" 

ties at St. Lou,s that I was connected with a treasonable 

organuat.on at Klorissant, and that mounted me , we ' 

seen to r,de up and give certain raps and signa oTthe d 

of my frame store building. Following .m'. Wher y's d 



Speaking heretofore of my association with Castillo in 
a partnership, leads my mind back to the Incidents of my 
trip from Denver, after selling my Interest to Dan Rose, 
at which time Rose, a member of the firm of Rose, Hance 
& Castillo, purchased my Interest In the stock of mer- 
chandise, transported it from St. Louis to Kansas City by 
the river and thence to Denver by wagons and ox teams. 
Some time in early September or the last of August, 1859, 
the firm was dissolved. Mr. Rose had no money, so I took 
his note with a letter to his old father requesting him to 
endorse it (which he did after I reached the old home in 
Missouri). His endorsement made the note as good as 
gold. However, I took In part payment the cattle and 
wagons, and just prior to leaving I advertised for two men 
to drive Into the States for me. I secured the services of 
one, Geo. Sawyer, whose home was In Chicago, and John 
Short, an Ohio man. They turned out to be good and 
reliable men. I had but little. If any money. In those days, 
we were shifty and that didn't cause any worry, but as good 
luck would have it, on my second day out I sold one yoke 
of steers for eighty dollars In gold. It raised my head some 
degrees, for now I could see my way clear to the old home 
at Florissant and to my dear mother to whom I had prom- 
ised to return In the autumn. Some days after leaving Den- 
ver, we reached the plains, still In possession of the several 
tribes of Indians; Sioux, Arapahoes and Pawnees are the 
ones I now recall who were at that time supposed to be 
peaceable, and I did not anticipate any trouble. One day, 
about noon, we drove through a Sioux village of perhaps 
one or two thousand and turned our cattle out to graze. 
We had no more than done so than quite a number of bucks 
surrounded our wagons, and I discovered several of them 
had gone Into our mess box which was attached to the rear 
of one wagon, and were simply cramming their mouths from 
our small stock of sugar. I called loudly to George Sawyer 
^ to look after them. He, without hesitation, snatched up the 
ox whip and never did I hear such popping and cracking as 
he lay It over the Indians' backs. I called again to George, 



Reminiscences 
of One 

Who Suffered 
in the 
Lost Cause 

Page 21 



Reminijcfficei and this tiiiic it w as : "F'or God's sake to stop it, you will 

Who SuflfrfJ ha\c the whole tribe onto us." Ihc Indians did not seem 

'n the (Q resent the treatment thev had received at his hands, but 
Lost Cause 



Page 22 



moved away to a respectful distance. We very soon drove 
in the cattle and hitched up. I ilirected my men to drive 
out, I stopping to purchase a buffalo robe. I saw an Indian 
who looked like he might be a high "muck-a-muck," and 
said, "Me want to buy robe, buffalo robe." He turned 
away and I had no better sense than to follow him, thinking 
he understood me. Walking pretty well up into the village 
he entered a lodge and I also followed. 

When I entered, he turned on me and gave a yell that 
made my hair stand up. I did not tarry, never moved 
quicker in my life. However, when I entered his lodge I 
did glance at three pretty squaws who were sitting on rugs 
or robes doing fancy or bead work, I imagine. I have often 
thought it might have been that glance of mine that caused 
the yell and my precipitate leave-taking. 

I didn't look any further for a buffalo robe, but struck 
out on the road the wagons had taken. They were already 
out of sight, so I quickened my pace. When out perhaps a 
mile from the village, I saw two mounted Indians coming 
at a sweeping gallop, over a range of low hills, and evi- 
dently in my direction. Really they would have run over 
me if I had not thrown up my hands. They simply rolled 
off their ponies and advanced upon me reaching out a hand 
with the word, and I suppose the only word they had learned 
of our tongue, "Swap me, swap," indicating my revolver 
and dagger. I divined their object instantly. It was to 
get their hands on my weapons, leap back onto their ponies 
and gallop away. I immediately drew my revolver with 
the intention, if they persisted, of firing upon them. They 
halted, I backed away with the revolver still pointing at 
them. They really looked confused. I only glanced back 
with one eye, then I did some lively walking, and it was 
perhaps an hour before I overtook my men. 

About that time a lone Indian, with a bow and arrow, 
dropped in with us. He seemed to be amusing himself 



?age 23 



hooting at birds he found along and near the road. After Reminiscences 
while, ce dropped back and it was the last we saw of Who Suffered 
im. Considering all the happenings and incidents of the lost'cause 
day, I thought we might be attacked and killed that night. 
So I said to the two men, "Short and Sawyer, we had best 
take every precaution." The first was, when camping that 
night, to get away as far as possible from the road and 
behind the trees and willows growing along the Platte River. 
We found an admirable hiding place, kept the cattle graz- 
ing as long as prudence would admit. We had one double- 
I barrel shotgun and perhaps three revolvers in readiness. 
We tumbled down on our blankets for the night for a good 
sleep; I was in the wagon and the two men underneath. 

About 10 o'clock, we were awakened by a great clatter 
of horses' feet and the talking of many persons. I thought 
it was a band in pursuit of us. Of course, I was in com- 
mand; I almost whispered, "Get ready," momentarily ex- 
pecting an attack. To our great relief, they passed on and 
I doubt if our camp was, or could be seen from the road, 
for we were effectually screened by brush and trees. 

We were told later that it was a Pawnee war party out 
after Sioux. I rather think, to the contrary, that it was 
Sioux returning to the village we had left at noon. 

This let us out of the Indian country, and I think it was 
the next day we reached old Fort Kearney. The trip was 
uneventful from there to Florissant where, with open 
arms, I was received by my dear mother, Sister Virginia 
Brand, Mattie Douglas, Brother-in-law Jos. C. Brand, Ben 
Douglas, and a host of young friends, boys and girls. 

Another incident, and one that raised the aborigine of 
America many points in my estimation, occurred about the 
first of May, in the year 1859. Near the Kaw, not very 
far west of Kansas City (which was not much more than a 
village, a small town, at any rate at that time), our com- 
pany, composed of about twenty-five or thirty men, on our 
way to Pike's Peak, had pitched our camp for over night 
in a beautiful spot near the river. The woods near were 
taking on the summer coat of green and the natural meadow 



Reminiscencfs land with its abundant grasses for the cattle, made it aij 

H'ho SufferrJ ideal camping ground. In the morning, when about read\j 

•" "if to pull out, a number of Indians came into camp. I think 

Lost Causr '^ ^ i i • t r 

they were Kaws; one, a fine looking fellow, clad in Indian 

"^^ style but better than the ordinary tribesman, led me to' 

think him a chief. He had swung over his shoulder a beau-1 
ti fully embroidered and beaded pouch. Reeves HopkinsJ 
a tlaredevil sort of a fellow, stepped up to him, pushed his 
hand into the pouch and pulled out what looked to be a 
choice twist of tobacco. His pants were m.ule of full cloth, 
dirty and greasy. Nevertheless, he stuck the twist of| 
tobacco into his pant's pocket. We could see at once that 
the Indian was greatly offended and insulted. Captain 
Lefevre spoke harshly to Hopkins, ordering him to replace 
the tobacco, which he did. 

The Indian took it out, looking with scorn on Hopkins, 
and sent it through the air as far as he could throw it. 
There wasn't a man in the company but would have backed 
him up in giving Hopkins a good licking. Capt. Lefevre 
warned Hopkins if he ever did anything of the kind again 
he must leave the train. He afterwards committed an act 
of vandalism. He is not worth further mention, so we will 
let this episode end here. 



ADDENDA 

Walnut Creek, I think it was, where the foregoing in- 
cident occurred. We were very soon out on the plains, 
reaching Olathe in perhaps a couple of days, then Emporia, 
then Diamond Springs, coming in contact almost daily with 
Indian tribes then occupying the plains, now the state of Kan- 
sas, thickly populated with white people. Council Grove was 
about the last, merely a trading post where a lot of lazy, 
good-for-nothing Indians lolled and lay around wondering, 
I suppose, where all these pale faces were going, for the old 
New Mexico Trail or old Santa Fe was one continuous 
stream of wagons on the way to "Pike's Peak" where gold, 
precious gold, could be picked up anywhere. Our train con- 
sisted of m.any wagons. When leaving St. Louis County for 
this trip I took along my shotgun luckily, for after leaving 
Council Grove, we were where thousands of Buffaloes could 
be seen grazing, all headed north. To explain this must 
say they were migratory, going north as the grasses of the 
plains come forth in the spring, as far north as British 
Columbia, and then, with the frost and cold of autumn, they 
push back south to the plains of Oklahoma and the Pan 
Handle of Texas for the winter. 

I killed my first buffalo on the Little Arkansas, out of 
which our boys had a great feast for we were all by this 
time thoroughly tired of salt meat. Many would cut out 
strips of meat from the carcass and hang them on a line 
stretched from one end of the wagon box to the other. 
They had no other way, nor the time to jerk it properly. 
When approaching the great bend of the Arkansas River, 
and standing on an elevation looking north, an unobstructed 
view could be seen, as far as the eye could reach, of a solid 
black mass of buffalo, and the same looking south. I have 
often said I believed I saw at this time one million and the 
statement was not an exaggeration — rather smacks of Mun- 
chausen, doesn't it? 

Very few can realize the change that has taken place 
west of the Missouri River since 1859; the west was then in 
a state of nature, now cultivated fields almost the entire 
distance from Kansas City to the Rocky Mountains. When 



AJJfttJa we reached Pueblo we found it to be only a few adobe huts, 
PagTYd ^"J perhaps one "trading post." Leaving Pueblo we turned 
north along the Fountain, a beautiful stream of clear water 
and full of mica, which we greenhorns thought was gold. 
Our minds were soon disillusioned by our good Captain Le 
Favre who informed us what it was. Leaving the Foun- 
tain and striking out on a high plateau where grass was 
abuniiant, we camped for the night, Pike's Peak seeming to 
be very near; however, it was then perhaps fifty miles away. 
I noticed after we went into camp several Indians camped 
near. 1 ilid not think much of it until perhaps about 3 a. m. 

1 h;ul to go on guard at 1 a. m. At that time the cattle 
were still grazing. Shortly I concluded they had grazed 
long enough, so rounded them up, and by making a number 
of circuits around them, soon had them lying down in the 
grass. Being satisfied that they were likely to stay down 
until nearly or about daylight, I went down too; I am still 
ashamed for I went to sleep (of which the camp never 
knew), and slept until I was awakened by the wild scream 
of some wild beast whose eyes I could see glaring at me in 
the darkness. I jumped to my feet so suddenly that the 
beast fled (I never knew what kind of a beast, perhaps a 
jaguar or mountain lion). It was most fortunate for me, 
for I could just hear the bell on old Tom, our leading steer. 
I thought no more of the beast that had awakened me, but 
I did think it was the Indians and they were running away 
our cattle. I didn't hesitate a moment but started in pur- 
suit on the run, trailing my double-barreled shotgun, fully 
determined to use it. 

I overtook them just at daylight. They were feeding 
away and in a fast walk — no Indians, to my great relief. 
I was nearly or quite out of breath when I headed them of? 
and turned them back, reaching camp just at sunrise, keep- 
ing mum on the night's adventure, not even mentioning the 
wild beast that would have scared me nearly to death if I 
hadn't heard that bell in the distance. 

On leaving this camp I crept into one of the wagons for 
a nap, not having had sufficient sleep while standing guard 
over the cattle during the night. When I awakened I heard 
a peculiar sound, something I had never heard; our train 
had just halted at Jim Springs. Looking out to discover 



what occasioned the peculiar sound, I saw the first pine for- Addenda 
est, and it was the soughing of the winds so pecuHar to the Page 27 
pines. It rather produced a sadness unaccountable until a 
few days after when I heard of the death of a dear cousin, 
Thomas M. Alexander, a noble boy; the soughing among 
the pines was a requiem. 

A few days before reaching Pueblo some four or five 
of the young men of the train, after camping one evening 
near the banks of the Arkansas River, concluded that they 
would swim across and then could say they had been in New 
Mexico. They started to swim across, I followed wading, 
not being an adept in the art. I did not go far until I was 
up to my neck, a swift current was washing the sand from 
under my feet at such a rate that, becoming alarmed I with 
difficulty got back to shore and safety. Being tired out I 
sat there until the boys returned. It was with their utmost 
efforts that they made it, and I noticed Thomas was the 
hindmost and for a time I was much alarmed for the cur- 
rent was very strong and they had to fight against it; after 
a desperate struggle he landed, but immediately commenced 
to vomit, and then purging followed. Dr. Willing of Calla- 
way did everything to relieve him, but of no avail, the dear 
noble boy died the second day after and was buried between 
Pueblo and Colorado Springs. 

Sometime after Hamilton and I returned from Old 
Florissant to Renick, to resume business at that little town, 
we sold out to Mr. Rice Alexander, Dr. Hamilton resum- 
ing the practice of medicine. Mr. Alexander, not being a 
druggist, I was employed by him not only to take care and 
charge of that department of the store, but really in full 
charge; Mr. Alexander having always been a farmer, knew 
nothing of conducting a general or department store. In 
less than a year after his purchase a fire destroyed the build- 
ing and greater part of the stock; now I was out again. In 
a few days I was approached by Baxter Davis, a wealthy 
farmer in the neighborhood, to buy a stock of goods and 
open up a new store. The partnership was entered into and 
it was not long until Davis and Hance were doing a smash- 
ing business. Having many good friends, I secured with 
but little effort, my share of the capital required. After a 
time and during this partnership, my dear wife (Kate 



AJdfnJa Henderson) and 1, licr devoted husband, having now one 
PaTeTs ^'^^'^ daughter Minne, concluded we must have a home of 
our very own, so we bought two acres adjoining the town 
and improved it with a neat cottage where we spent a num- 
ber of years, and while here another dear one came to us, our 
son Forest. Minne is now with us and Forest and his family 
live in Hollywood, this August 4th, 1914. While at Hunts- 
ville we lost our third child, Lucile Elma, one year old. 

The firm of Davis & I lance prospered, but Mr. Davis 
being a farmer took no part whatever in the management, 
and I needed badly someone who would be an active part- 
ner, so it was arranged with the best of feeling between us 
that he sell his interest to Mr. James H. Hardin, I being 
the senior. The new firm started out Hance & Hardin; this 
partnership lasted thirteen years. However, during the 
partnership I was persuaded or induced by a number of good 
friends to quit mercantile pursuits and enter politics. Real- 
izing how trying and laborious was the business I was en- 
gaged in (having only the left hand), I consented to make 
the race at an ensuing election for Clerk of the Circuit Court 
and ex-officio Recorder of the county (Randolph Co., Mo.). 
Preparatory to making the campaign I secured a nice little 
saddle mare and into the saddle I went and stayed in it for 
perhaps six or eight weeks, barring nights and time to eat 
part of the time. My opponent being Capt. Tad Austin, I 
soon found I would have to defeat a very popular man, of 
which I took particular note and so advised my friends. Un- 
derstand this was a primary election, both Austin and myself 
being pronounced Democrats and this test would place one 
of us on the ticket at the general election. The county being 
very largely Democratic, the primary w^ould virtually result 
in an election. Republicans were permitted to participate, a 
very generous thing for our party to do. The Republicans 
of the county had taken umbrage that Capt. Austin who had 
served in the Federal militia had gone over to the Demo- 
cratic party, many, indeed a large majority, declaring openly 
their preference for an out and out old Reb. So fortunately 
for me I was largely supported by members of that party,' ^ 
one of my warmest friends being Capt. Pat Carmody of 
Moberly. After the votes were all in and I proved to have 
a majority of eighty-nine in the county, I heard that Pat 



threw up his hat until he had to buy a new one. All this Addenda 
happened in the autumn of 1874. Page 29 

Five years ago when on a visit to St. Louis, I called at 
Capt. Carmody's place of business to see him. I did not 
observe when asking for him that he was standing back of 
the counter with his back to me; he saw me as he turned. 
His face expressed surprise. He did not hesitate a moment 
but rushed around the counter, throwing his arms around 
me and exclaiming, "Charlie, if there ever was a man 
I loved it is you." Dear old Pat, he is still a dear friend 
and he and I are getting, oh, so far on the shady side of 
life and after a while we will meet under the "shade of the 
trees over there, "where it is a haven of rest and peace and 
he and I will shake hands, and not over the bloody chasm. 

In November, succeeding the autumn election, it de- 
volved upon me to move my little family of wife and two 
children, Minne and Forest, to Huntsville, the county seat, 
where I must take up the duties of the offices of Circuit 
Clerk and ex-officio Recorder of the County for a term of 
four years, in the meantime devoting my entire time in 
familiarizing myself with the duties of these offices. Mr. 
Alexander H. Waller (now judge of that circuit), I ap- 
pointed chief deputy, who also took up the work. He was 
a young lawyer of some experience and soon proved to be 
of value and a very capable assistant. Capt. Austin, the 
outgoing clerk whom I had just defeated was kind, courteous 
and obliging, taking much pains in giving the modus oper- 
andi, so when taking my seat at the clerk's desk the first 
time in the court room in the presence (I was going to say 
august, but he wasn't) of dear Judge Burckhart, I felt quite 
equal to the taking of his orders, decrees and judgments; I 
often wonder how I did it, I think I had more nerve then 
than I have now. 

I soon knew the lawyers practicing in that court. I re- 
call now Col. A. F. Denny, Capt. Read, Thos. Kimbrough, 
Jno. R. Christian, Newt. Rutherford, Wat Martin, A. P. 
Terrill, Jno. Montgomery of the M. K. & T. Ry., H. Sam 
Priest (noAv of St. Louis) , Frank Wiley, Judge Blodgett and 
our dear friend, Jno. P. Jones, now a prominent attorney of 
Los Angeles. I say without hesitation, there was not a court 
of any circuit in the state which could excel that in character 



I 



AJJenda and ability. There was also Sam Majors of Fayette, also , 
Page 30 Gen. Jno. B. Clark and occasionally Gen. Odon Guitar of i 
Columbia and Jno. Williams of Macon. 

During my first term, or about the close of it, a court of 
common pleas was established at Moberly, of which I was 
made clerk by the law creating said court. Now I was in- 
deed kept busy, however, I was fortunate as I pride myself 
always in the selection of deputies and others serving under 
me, and so it was in this case, my first deputy of that court 
being Luther Tcrrill, a young man of good habits and of 
line attainments, so everything ran smooth in that court. 
During my entire service of eight years no one but myself 
took the orders of the courts in either one of which I was 
clerk. I think the records taken from the minutes were writ- 
ten up by the deputy at Moberly, but never a line went into 
the records of the circuit court during the eight years of my 
incumbency, but mine. 

My next deputy at Moberly was Ben. T. Hardin, now 
practicing law at Kansas City, also a good selection, very 
capable, his work always satisfactory to Judge Burckhart 
and myself. I remember a very funny circumstance at one 
term of court. Ben had made up the docket from a former 
term and docketed a case the court had dismissed. The 
judge looked at it a moment, when a broad smile spread 
over his face. Ben had written "dumped." It raised a laugh 
in the court room when the judge announced the case had, it 
seemed, been "dumped." The judge said, in explanation, 
that when writing "dismissed" he had used a long "s," mak- 
ing it look like a "p." 

James R. Lowell was next deputy, a fine fellow, never a 
more conscientious or better clerk; I think he is still living 
in Moberly, and is editor of a paper. 

L. C. Brand, now a millionaire of this city, was my chief 
deputy in the recorder's office. He is now connected offi- 
cially with a number of wealthy corporations of Los Angeles. 

After the first four years at an ensuing election I was 
elected without opposition. My strenuous work during all 
the years of active service was getting rather the best of me, 
however, and at this time I was importuned by friends, 
Henry Newman among them, to make the race for secretary 
of state, to which I could not consent because I knew it was 



Imperative that I seek a new and more genial climate, al- Addenda 
though it hurt me to the soul to leave the many true and loyal Page3l 
friends I had in the county, and indeed I might say, in 
many counties of my dear old native state of Missouri. 
Dear old State, I love you still, and the many good friends 
still living there. Family and I left Moberly, January 10, 
1883, for San Jose, California. 

The night we left Moberly it was clear and cold, only 
10 degrees below. We took the M. K. & T. running down 
through southwest Missouri, Indian Territory and Texas to 
Fort Worth, where ladies were carrying parasols. From 
there to San Jose had a delightful trip; our dear cousin. Dr. 
J. S. Potts and his good wife, our cousin, who induced us to 
go there, met us with open arms and their home was ours 
until we secured and furnished one; their kindness and hos- 
pitality was so pronounced we enjoyed every moment of our 
stay with them. By the way. Dr. J. S. Potts was a young 
medical student under Dr. Russell who amputated my right 
arm after the battle of Moore's Mills, July 28, 1862; he 
assisted at the time. We afterwards married cousins, al- 
though I knew none of them at the time and never expected 
to see or meet him after the meeting on that unhappy occa- 
sion for me. 

When leaving Huntsville, Mo., for San Jose, California, 
Dr. J. S. Potts telegraphed me that he had arranged with 
parties starting a new banking institution there for me, that 
my position in the bank would be Cashier; of course, I was 
highly pleased to be so provided for in advance. 

Mr. J. H. Braly and a Mr. Hinds were the parties re- 
sponsible for the undertaking, as I learned immediately upon 
my arrival. A meeting was called, in which I was expected to 
participate. I had in the meantime consulted with friends 
as to the advisability of placing my entire capital in the con- 
cern as a condition of the acceptance of the position I was 
to fill and was dissuaded from doing so, and at this first 
meeting so informed the said principals. The bank never 
materialized, but fell down. 

A few days thereafter I purchased a drug store, my old 
business that I had followed many years successfully In my 
native State. 



Addenda The business proved very satisfactory for two and a half 

PagTTz years; climatic conditions there were a disappointment; San 
Jose, not as salubrious as I had hoped, felt must get further 
south. I sold out to my chief clerk, Mr. Sam Wagner, who ^ 
owns the store at present. That was in July, 1885. Look- 1 
ing for warmth, took a train for San Antonio, Texas. Visited \ 
Austin also. Nothing came of it. Not finding any location i 
satisfactory, I returned to San Jose, then later made a trip ' 
to God's country. Southern California, Spn Diego first, at ' 
that time a very dead town; came up to the City of the 
Angels, a city then of about thirty thousand; and before 
leaving had purchased Chas. B. Pironi's interest in the 
Preuss & Pironi Central Pharmacy, located at 177 and 179 
North Spring Street. 

Here I did a very prosperous business for some years, 
say about eight, occupying the location ten years; business 
began to move South, so fast indeed, that my business had 
drifted away to such an extent that I sold out, 1894. 

Autumn of 1896 was elected City Clerk; was retained 
in this office three terms (six years) ; during the six years 
it has been my boast that I never lost a single business day. 

I was not in any instance, after serving as City Clerk the 
three terms, advised to step down and out, but thought it 
best to do so, being always a democrat and attached to the 
principles of the party, one of which was averse to the seek- 
ing of and holding office for more than two terms. How- 
ever, I have since changed my views in such cases where the 
clerk or office holder has proved to be entirely worthy, just 
as in a private corporation. 

After leaving the Clerk's office, was offered the position 
of Assistant Treasurer and Assistant Secretary of the Title 
Guarantee and Trust Company. These positions I filled, I 
believe to the entire satisfaction of the Corporation. 

This position was resigned to make the race for City 
Treasurer at an ensuing election. My election in this race 
was won by a majority of 7000. 

After two years' service, was re-elected. My majority 
at this election was nearly 15,000. During this term an 
amendment to the City Charter providing for the appoint- 
ment of the City Treasurer by the Mayor was adopted by 
the people. Immediately after the election I was appointed 



to succeed myself by Mr, George Alexander, who had just Addenda 
been elected Mayor to succeed himself. My present term Page33 
will expire January 1, 1916. 

It is needless for me to say how I have enjoyed this con- 
fidence reposed in me by the good people of Los Angeles 
' (the salt of the earth) and to my dear friend, George Alex- 
ander, and his successor, H. H. Rose, who told me, when he 
was elected to succeed Mr. Alexander, I need not see him 
(for he, Mr. Rose, could have asked for my resignation). 
I wish to say, in closing this little book of reminiscences and 
biography, that some of my readers might think surely C. 
H. Hance was a chronic office seeker. I was not, for in 
most cases, indeed in all cases, except in re-election, it was 
upon importunities, advice and request of warm personal 
friends. 



GRATIOT STREET PRISON, FEDERAL, 

vs. 

ANDERSONVILLE, CONFEDERATE. 

I write this not so much to justify the South in Its treat- 
ment of Federal prisoners at Andersonville, as to state facts 
concerning the treatment of Confederate prisoners confined 
in Gratiot Street Prison, formerly McDowell's Medical Col- 
lege, St. Louis, Mo. 

A man (brute) named Hendershot (German) had the 
contract to feed the prisoners. During my stay the food 
was such that I could only partake of sufficient to keep from 
starving. I shall not attempt to describe it. Those who 
had preceded me and gone through the starvation period, 
and had gradually come to it, would stand back of me, smil- 
ing at my too evident disgust with the stuff — hardtack, fat 
bacon fried to a cracklin, rye coffee (hardly discolored) and 
maybe bean soup, thin as water, with three beans in it. 
When I would arise, leaving the bulk of it untouched, then 
and before I could fairly get out of the way, the poor fel- 
lows who had acquired an appetite for the sumptuous meal 
would scuffle and fight over the possession of it. 

I think the cracklin was the most tempting bait, notwith- 
standing old Hendershot had extracted every drop of 
grease, which he sold to soap makers. 



Addenda \ remember, whilst a boarder, the prisoners, some o 

Page34 them, were rolhn^ these barrels of grease out of the fron 
door of the old McDowell mansion; one of the prisoners ( 
think he did it maliciously) let go of a barrel while goin< 
down the steps, and it burst. The grease ran down ovei 
the sidewalk into the gutter; a steep grade here sent the oil 
racing down the street. Old Ilendcrshot, to punish the 
prisoner, had him thrown into a dungeon as a punishment 
for his carelessness, and particularly the loss of the grease. 
This was my second attendance, or second course, at Mc- 
Dowell College of Medicine, and my last course, and, I am 
sorry to say, without graduation. 

Now, I must tell you how I came to take this second 
course. It was as a civilian, and not as a soldier, although 
the charges were for the writing of a treasonable letter. It 
was this way: Very shortly after learning to write with 
the left hand (I had lost my right arm at the battle of 
Moore's Mills), after my return home and after I had 
resumed business in the little town of Renick, one day a man 
by the name of Haggard entered the store and asked me if 
I would write a letter for him. I told him I would, and 
asked to whom. He said to his brother, and that he was 
with General Sterling Price, who was then with his army of 
Missourians east of the Mississippi. I demurred somewhat 
for the danger. However, he insisted, and I wrote the 
letter. He was an illiterate fellow, so really my sentiments 
were pretty freely expressed in the letter. I remember dis- 
tinctly I wrote his brother to make a good soldier and never 
return to Missouri unless with a victorious army, and one 
that could drive the d — d Yankees from our State, and I 

also said Lincolnites — I think T again used the d . 

This letter, with a quantit)' of mail, was captured by the 
Yankees at Island No. 10, sent back and the guilty ones 
looked up. 

Letters from our County, Randolph, were sent to the 
Provo Marshal at Huntsville. The arrest of Haggard fol- 
lowed. When hauled up before the authorities at St. Louis, 
he was asked if he wrote the letter. He answered immedi- 
ately that he could neither read nor write. The fool did not 
know that telling who wrote it would not make it any easier 
for him ; he told them that C. H. Hancc wrote it. The next 



triessage to Randolph County was to arrest and send to St. Addenda 
Louis your humble writer; then after reaching St. Louis I Page35 
was taken from the prison to Mr. Provo to tell about that 
.reasonable letter. Mr. Spahr was in the office. He at 
once produced the letter, which I quickly recognized. I 
;old him I was its author. He asked: "Are those your 
sentiments?" I assured him they were, holding up my 
empty sleeve. Really, he apologized by saying so many 
coming before him lied. 

I was released on parole in a few days through influential 
friends in St. Louis; however, I was limited to my brother- 
in-law's dwelling and premises, to report either daily or 
weekly, I have forgotten. It was during the existence of 
this parole, and after I was permitted to return to Randolph 
County, that I had the good fortune to meet Miss Kate 
Henderson (related in my little Booklet of Reminiscences). 

Now, I will relate the circumstances of my having to take 
the first course at McDowell's College. 

After the battle of Moore's Mills, fought the 28th day 
of July, 1862, where my right arm was sacrificed to the 
Lost Cause, and my return home in Randolph County, Mis- 
souri, the Federal authorities stationed at Huntsville pub- 
lished a placard, posting same throughout the County, invit- 
ing those who had served in the Confederate Army to come 
in and they would be given a parole, upon the strict observ- 
ance of which they would be permitted to stay unmolested 
at their homes. Up to this time I had avoided arrest, so 
thought it best to report, and did. Col. A. F. Denny, then 
in command at Huntsville, it seems, fathered the scheme 
and issued to those coming in, and there were quite a number 
paroled. 

Not later than two weeks, we were all ordered to report, 
and it was a peremptory order. Under the conditions of 
our parole we dared not disobey. In positive violation of 
the parole and its promises, upon our appearance at head- 
quarters we were hustled into confinement in old Mount 
Pleasant College. I remained here only a few days, when 
an order came to remove all those confined there to Gratiot 
Street Prison, St. Louis, Mo. Captain Tad Austin was 
commissioned to see the order carried into effect. The 
treatment was identical with that related in course number 



Addenda two at the prisoii; the same means and persons were respon- 
Page36 ^'^^^ ^^^ "^Y release. 

I wish to say, in justice to Col. A. F. Denny, that his act 
was a kindness to many in the County who had for various 
causes returned from the army, some like myself, entirely 
disabled from further service, others whose terms of enlist- 
ment had expired. In after years, and while clerk of the 
Circuit Court, he a practicing lawyer in that court, we were 
of necessity thrown much together, and on an occasion he 
took an opportunity to explain how it was that his parole 
to us was disregarded by his superior officer, and how he 
had suffered because of his seeming responsibility for the 
betrayal. The Colonel, one of God's noblemen, has long 
since gone to the beyond. Rest his soul in peace. 

To complete the story of my imprisonment during the 
unhappy period of the Civil War, will concern my father's 
transactions prior to that time with the owner and pro- 
prietor of McDowell's College (Gratiot Street Prison). 
Father owned, among other slaves, a negro woman, Susan 
(nicknamed Suse), during the year 1849, whom he hired to 
the doctor. My mother had given Suse good training as 
a house servant, and she proved so efficient, the doctor con- 
cluded he must own her. After, I suppose, getting Suse's 
consent to be sold to him, he approached father on the sub- 
ject. Father said, "No, not unless she wishes for the 
change. I don't think she will consent." 

When she was interviewed by father, she answered: 
"Well, Mas John, I'se mighty well fixed wha I am. If it 
makes no difrence to you, you can let the doctor have me and 
Karline" (Caroline, the child, about 9 or 10). At that time 
the cholera was making its appearance in St. Louis, and one 
of the doctor's arguments to influence father to sell to him 
was that she would die of that disease. She did die of the 
disease that summer, the doctor's words, said in levit}% com- 
ing too true. 

Suse had nursed me when a babe; when she was sold I 
was 12 years old. Being much attached to her, I had made 
many visits to the McDowell mansion, and when sent there 
a prisoner every room was familiar to me. The room where 
I tried to eat the hard tack and cracklings was the college 
dining room. 



How strikingly strange all this seems now, after fifty Addenda 
years and over. I suppose Mr. Lincoln's proclamation Page37 
freed Caroline, and perhaps her progeny. One of Susan's 
children, Mary, two months younger than I, lives now at 
Cheltenham, near St. Louis. She and I grew up together, 
and while on the plantation had hoed many a long row of 
young and growing corn, or had worked in the vegetable 
and flower garden, and I want to say, it was no slouch of a 
garden for those times; it was attractive and beautiful. 



KINGSLEY. MASON a COLLINS CO . LOS ANGELES 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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